Covering for constructing aircraft



Patented June 10, 1924 VICTOR LEE EMERSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COVERING FOR CONSTRUCTING AIRCRAFT.

No Drawing.

To all'whom it may concem: Be it known that I, VICTOR a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Coverings for Constructing Aircraft, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved covering for constructing aircrafts, and is particularly adaptedto the construction of the wings and bodies thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a material which will have the qualities of lightness, strength, durability, and be of such character as to be practically transparent to an observer and non-inflammable.

Another object is to provide a covering which will be unaffected by moisture, oils, or gasoline. v The coverings for the purpose herein described now in use deteriorate very rapidly, and when once a tear in the same is started it rapidly enlarges, 'so as to soon destroy 2 the usefulness of the covering. When in flight the impact of the air against the covering acts to accelerate the destruction of the covering, as whenonce a tear is started the force .of the air acting against the torn portion rapidly enlarges the tear. Such tears are very common in military use from the efi'ect of projectiles. With the use of my invention the danger from destruction of the plane in mid air from .this cause is avoided. I

It has been heretofore attempted to treat the covering with pigments so as to effect a camouflage when in use for a military purpose. This has not been altogether suc cessfully accomplished with the coverings now in use. Constant inspection, repair, and replacement are necessary, and to this end it is desirable to have the ribs or supporting portions of the plane clearly visible 45 is impossible when the ordinary airplane cloth treated with a pigment in the usual manner is employed, as this type of covering is opaque.

Application filed August 23, 192].

LEE EMERSON,

.ting used is susceptible of being without the removal of the covering. This Serial No. 494,688.

complishmentof' the objects of my invention. I have also found that a coating whose basic constituent is sodium silicate is also very satisfactory. The wire netpunctured repeatedly without subject to tear, with resultant destruction, as with the ordinary coverings. This enables the aviator to sustain his flight without danger of destruction of his plane in mid air,-

upon being struck with projectiles. The netting being covered with the transparent coating, which fills the open spaces therein, presents an almost invisible object from'tho earth, which makes the plane a very diflicult target.

Another object obtained 'by the use of my improved covering is immunity from fire, as the netting is of a metallic nature and the coating is preferabl non-inflammable. Thus the danger from re is avoided, which is present with coverings composed of inflam mable-material, as heretofore used. By the use of my invention these great dangers'and difficulties of the aviator are avoided. In order to renew the covering it is only necessary to remove the coating and recoat the netting. This saves great expense and is easily and quickly accomplished. Repairs are also possible with "a minimum of expense and labor,

The covering of my invention is easily ap-,.

plied, and when once in place remains permanently fixed, without stretching or r meme? buckling, as is the case with the ordinary airresulting from the combination of ammoplane covering now used. My improved nium bichromate and fish glue. covering also adds great strength to an air- In testimony whereof, I have signed my craft, being structurally a metallic rename to this specification in the presence 6 inforcemen of two subscribing witnesses, this 19th day 15 Having described my invention, what ll of August 1921.

claim is v VICTOR LEE EMERSON.

As an article of manufacture, a covering Witnesses: for constructing aircrafts, comprising a net- LA RENCE S. PADDOCK,

21 ting having a coating composition thereon RUssELL W. SOHIMPF. 

